"Eb" was a bright mulatto, handsome, well-made, and barely twenty years
of age. He reported that he fled from Mr. John Tilghman Foster, a
farmer, living in the vicinity of Richmond. His master, Ebenezer
unhesitatingly declared, was a first-rate man. "I had no right to leave
him in the world, but I loved freedom better than Slavery." After fully
setting forth the kind treatment he had been accustomed to receive under
his master, a member of the Committee desired to know of him if he could
read, to which he answered that he could, but he admitted that what
knowledge he had obtained in this direction was the result of efforts
made stealthily, not through any license afforded by his master. John
Tilghman Foster held deeds for about one hundred and fifty head of
slaves, and was a man of influence.
Ebenezer had served his time in the barber's shop. On escaping he
forsook his parents, and eight brothers and sisters. As he was so
intelligent, the Committee believed he would make his mark in life some
time.
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